The Rapeseed Fields

Princess Yupe had fallen completely fast asleep, and a quiet stretch followed.

No one in the group was the chatty type, so they each spent the time in their own way.

It seemed a shame to wake her when she looked so comfortable.

Besides, he rather liked these moments with Azu and the others.

He never tired of watching the two of them.

Still, she'd been a bit nervous around Azu, and yet here she was sleeping soundly right next to her. What sort of mental fortitude was that?

On the positive side, maybe it meant she trusted them.

The only sounds were the horse's hoofbeats, the rattle of wheels over rough ground.

The sharp cry of a hawk circling overhead.

And… Princess Yupe's gentle breathing.

Watching her sleeping face, she really did look remarkably like her sister, Queen Tianis.

But their expressions were so different that unless she was still like this, the impression they gave off was completely unalike.

"We've come quite far from the Royal Capital, but there isn't a single monster in sight."

"The military and adventurers thin them out along the highways on a regular schedule, so the monsters are probably lying low to avoid being hunted."

Elza peered out the window.

Even as they entered open plains with clear sightlines, no monsters attacked.

No wonder the wagon hadn't come with guards.

The area was remarkably safe.

That was thanks to Queen Tianis and Chancellor Anatia making public safety their top priority.

And equally to the people who carried out that directive.

"Chiliarch Mani's been doing good work, too. The Royal Army was visibly falling apart even to a layman, but now it's functioning as a proper military, however rough around the edges."

"I think it's mostly because the upper brass got cleaned out wholesale. You know how the military's senior officers were mostly nobles, right? The young common soldiers must have been kept under tremendous pressure. With that gone, they're probably throwing themselves into it. And from what I hear, the nobles still in the ranks are the understanding sort."

"That's plausible. Morale among the soldiers stationed in the Royal Capital is genuinely high. I saw their training when I visited the castle, and there was real energy."

So purging the Secretary of Military Affairs's faction had drained the infection, in a way?

If Spartia's soldiers came to help train them, the army could become truly formidable.

They had promised cooperation, so perhaps he should suggest it to Queen Tianis.

"Come to think of it, we don't take quests like that very often anymore."

"The pay for extermination quests is too low. Even factoring in materials, if I'm putting Azu and the others to work as adventurers, it's far more profitable to send them into dungeons or have them bring back materials that sell for a premium. And their adventurer rank has climbed quite a bit. There's no reason to take jobs anyone can do when we're not strapped for cash."

"True, I suppose so. Personally, I wouldn't mind hunting monsters at all, though."

"Is that the Church of the Creator King talking?"

"Yes. Prayer for the people and purification of monsters were our primary duties."

Elza held her mace close as she spoke.

A priestess, yet devoted to slaying monsters.

Apparently, purifying monsters also helped seal the rifts from which they spawned.

"I'll take any job. Unlike the others, I don't have any skills outside of combat…"

"I'd say that's plenty of talent."

Azu had survived countless life-or-death situations.

Alexia and Elza's support played a role, sure, but he'd been told she possessed exceptional natural instincts.

And how many adventurers could claim to have beaten one of Spartia's hardened soldiers in a straight fight?

She probably felt self-conscious because she didn't get many chances to shine outside of combat.

But the fact that she spoke up at all showed how much she'd grown.

In the early days, even voicing an opinion had scared her.

"I've been counting on you from the start. You've even saved my life."

"Of course. I've devoted myself to you, body and soul."

"My, how bold."

"Th-that's not what I… I mean, I wouldn't mind, but…"

Elza's comment turned Azu bright red, and she trailed off into an inaudible mumble.

Luido was drawing close, and the rapeseed fields came into view.

It was just the right season for them to bloom, and a carpet of yellow flowers stretched before them.

The sight of golden wheat fields painting the landscape was moving in its own right, but this view was quite impressive too.

"Master, Elza-san! Look at this! It's so beautiful!"

Azu's eyes were immediately captured, and she urged them to look outside.

That woke Princess Yupe.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I wake you?"

"Fwah, what? Aah, I slept great. The booze has finally cleared out of my system. I feel amazing."

A good nap had fully recharged her.

Even in a wagon with terrible sleeping conditions.

Maybe she was better suited to being an adventurer than a royal.

"What are you looking at?"

"Apparently that's the rapeseed they were talking about expanding."

"Let me see."

"Ah…"

Princess Yupe leaned forward, resting her chest on Azu's head as she poked her face out the window.

Azu was pushed to the side by the weight.

"The breeze feels wonderful. Huh, it's actually quite a nice view. With all that out there, they still don't have enough oil?"

"The seeds that form after the flowers bloom are what get pressed for oil, so the actual yield is smaller than it looks. That was enough to meet normal demand, but if you're going to consume massive quantities for a war, it won't be."

"Huh. I'd love to see the actual process."

"That's the plan. I need to understand the details myself before I can move the conversation forward. I could just order the people of Luido to do it, but I wouldn't get their cooperation that way."

"You're kind of like a deputy lord of Luido, aren't you, Yohane?"

"Am I? I was just told to manage things, so the people of Luido probably think of me as a government official."

He wasn't a noble, so being a lord, even a deputy, was out of the question.

But one didn't need to be a lord to collect appropriate taxes and reinvest them into development.

"Isn't that functionally the same as being a lord?"

"Well, yes. He himself just feels like he's doing what he can."

"Master can do anything."

Princess Yupe asked Azu and Elza.

"Odd. In that position, most people would cut loose a lot more… Is that why Tianis and Anatia are so attached to him?"

"Who knows? A lowly merchant who abused his authority would get this pretty quick."

He drew his thumb across his throat.

Queen Tianis was his backer. His fate could swing any direction at her whim.

Scary stuff.

"I don't think there's even a one-in-a-million chance of that. Oh, looks like we're here."

The wagon came to a stop, and they opened the door and stepped out.

His body was stiff all over, and his rear end ached.

Even with a blanket spread down, it was like this.

A personal wagon would have had thicker cushions and less vibration, but beggars couldn't be choosers when hitching a free ride.

"Thank you for the ride."

"Not at all. Just glad nothing happened. Really."

He thanked the driver.

"Thank you. That was a big help."

"Y-yes, ma'am!"

Princess Yupe offered her thanks as well.

She was accustomed to it, clearly.

"How would you like to get back? I'll be resting the horse and picking up goods from the warehouse, then heading home."

"That shouldn't take too long, right?"

"No, not at all. The purchasing's already done, so I just need to load it up."

More streamlined than he'd expected.

He should take notes… No, that wasn't important right now.

He'd assumed they'd have more time.

He had a house in Luido, so he and the others could simply stay the night, but that wouldn't work for Princess Yupe.

"Shall we just do a quick look around and send you back, Princess Yupe?"

"There should be room for one more passenger even with the cargo loaded. It'll be a tight fit, but…"

"Hold on, hold on. I'm not going home that soon. I won't say I need to be completely satisfied, but I'm staying until the end."

"That would mean an overnight stay. Are you sure?"

"That's perfectly fine. Or are you going to do something to me?"

"Of course not. I've just heard that it's improper for a noblewoman to stay under the same roof as a man."

Princess Yupe let out a laugh.

"How old-fashioned. Nowadays, only some stuffy chaperone would say that. I'm royalty, but as you know, I have no duties and no rights, so it's fine. Treating a simple overnight stay as sharing a bed? Now that's funny."